Why do dogs eat grass? The dog eats grass, what should I do, is it dangerous?

Why does your dog eat grass and vomit? Do you see your dog nibbling on blades of grass during walks? Find out when grass eating by your pet is not a problem and when you should take your canine friend to the vet.

Why your dog eats grass – the basics

Dogs are relatively carnivorous animals. Wolves, dingoes and foxes have also been observed to eat grass. It turns out that this behaviour in quadrupeds is completely normal and natural. Having your dog eat a green treat from time to time provides the necessary fibre. Eating grass can also help to eliminate parasites. However, it is important to monitor how often your pet eats grass, how much and in what way. Sometimes it can be dangerous, cause health problems, indicate disease or a serious deficiency.

Can a dog eating grass be dangerous?

Sometimes your dog’s consumption of grass can be dangerous. If your dog frequently eats grass on walks and pulls up individual blades of grass, this could indicate a lack of fibre in his diet. If this is the case, it is a good idea to switch to a high-fibre food. If your dog’s behaviour does not change, take him to the vet. It is especially dangerous if the dog eats grass, vomits and has diarrhoea.

Your dog eats grass and vomits, what should you do?

If your dog eats grass and vomits it back up within a few minutes or several minutes of eating it, this can be a symptom of stomach problems in your pet. The animal may have overeaten or ingested something bad. The ingested herb tickles the roof of the mouth and causes vomiting. This is how the pet gets rid of the lingering stomach contents. If it happens rarely, there is no need to worry. We should go to the vet with our dog when the ingestion of grass is greedy and often causes vomiting or when the animal also suffers from diarrhoea. If the dog vomits blood or bile, this is a sign of serious health problems, so we should go to the vet immediately.

Eating grass and behavioural problems

Eating grass does not always imply health problems. The origin may lie in behavioural problems. The four-legged dog may nibble grass out of boredom or lack of attention from the owner. The animal may also be stressed, eating grass as well as sticks or stones. Walking in a new place, an unfamiliar park, meeting other dogs, can make a dog anxious. Let’s try to go with our dog to a place where we go often and pay attention to his reactions. If our dog is relaxed and no longer eats the grass, we know he was stressed. Gradually accustoming the pet to new places and avoiding them when we know they are full of unfamiliar dogs can help our pet to get rid of the problem.

How to prevent your dog from eating grass?

When we know that our four-legged friend is not suffering from a health problem and is still eating grass, we can try to discourage him from this activity. When you go for a walk, take treats with you to distract your dog and prevent him from nibbling on the grass. If your pet gets bored eating grass, you should pay more attention to playing with it, running or tiring it out with sniffing games.

Grass for your dog: is it safe?

We already know that you can let your dog eat grass as long as he doesn’t eat it too often, too much and if he doesn’t vomit afterwards. It is important to know what grass is suitable for your dog. We cannot allow our dog to eat grass that may be contaminated with exhaust fumes or chemicals. If you are sure that the grass is free of these substances, your dog may nibble on it from time to time. We should also beware of plants that are poisonous to our dogs. These include daffodil, lily of the valley, ivy, boxwood, honeysuckle, rhododendron, hydrangea and mistletoe. As a precaution, do not allow your pets to run among these plants.